U.S. extradites Los Zetas member for killing of ICE agent

A Mexican drug cartel member accused of killing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent Jaime Zapata was extradited from Mexico and is being held in the United States to face murder charges, U.S. Justice Department officials said Wednesday.

Julian Zapata Espinoza, known as “El Piolin” or “Tweety Bird,” is in federal custody in the District of Columbia.

A federal grand jury in April returned a four-count indictment charging him with murder in the death of Zapata, attempted murder of ICE special agent Victor Avila, one count of a murder and attempted murder of internationally protected persons and one count of using a firearm during the crimes.

“The indictment, unsealed today, and the successful extradition of Piolin to the United States, reflect the Justice Department’s vigorous and determined efforts to seek justice for agents Zapata and Avila,” said Lanny Breuer, assistant U.S. attorney general.

The extradition of Zapata Espinoza to face charges in the United States was called “a significant development in the ongoing investigation,” said Kevin Perkins, the assistant director for the FBI Criminal Investigative Division.

Zapata, 32, of Brownsville, was gunned down Feb. 15 by members of the Los Zetas drug cartel.

He and Avila were ambushed while traveling between Mexico City and Monterrey, near San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Avila was wounded.

The agents at the time of the ambush were acting as consultants to Mexican authorities who in the battle against the drug cartels.

Breuer said U.S. officials and their Mexican counterparts were working closely “to hold violent criminals accountable.”

Zapata Espinoza had been arrested in Mexico in December 2009 on weapons and organized crime charges but was given a conditional release by a federal judge four months later, Mexican officials said.

After Zapata Espinoza stopped checking in with parole officers, a judge revoked his release last January, just weeks before the U.S. agents were attacked, but authorities could not locate fugitive.

Zapata Espinoza was arrested following the ambush confessed to the shooting death of agent Zapata to Mexican authorities.

The National Defense Secretariat of Mexico said five other Zetas were also arrested in connection with the ambush, and that five rifles, a handgun, five vehicles, included one that was armor-plated, and communication equipment was confiscated.

Zapata Espinoza was turned over by Mexican authorities to FBI agents at the airport in Veracruz state in Mexico on Tuesday for extradition to the United States.

He was brought before U.S. District Chief Judge Royce Lamberth in Washington, where the indictment was unsealed.

Zapata Espinoza pleaded not guilty to the charges and Lamberth ordered him held without bail and ordered a Jan. 25, 2012 hearing.

The death of Zapata and attempted murder of Avila was an international incident that prompted President Barack Obama to press Mexican President Felipe Calderon for extradition during a state visit earlier this year.

Calderon and Mexican officials worked with Justice Department lawyers, the FBI, ICE, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the Diplomatic Security Service and the U.S. Marshals Service on the investigation.

“All of us at ICE are encouraged by today’s action and appreciate the unwavering work and support of all our law enforcement partners in this case,” said John Morton, the ICE director.

Morton said regardless of the progress in the case, “our hearts and prayers continue to go out to Jaime’s family and his close colleagues within the ICE community.”

Weapons used in the attack on the U.S. agents were traced to a U.S. resident in Dallas, who was arrested on gun trafficking charges and pleaded guilty earlier this year.

Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, said the extradition of Zapata Espinoza was an “encouraging step in bringing to justice those responsible for this heinous crime.”

“I applaud all the branches of law enforcement that have worked together throughout this investigation,” said Farenthold, whose congressional district includes Brownsville.

Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, said Calderon promised U.S. lawmakers that the Mexican government would aggressively pursuit agent Zapata’s killers “and so far we’ve had a high level of cooperation and success.”

The extradition also underscored the U.S. commitment to fight organized crime in Mexico, said Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo.

“It’s a strong message being sent by the U.S. government to the drug cartels,” Cuellar said.

Dudley Althaus in Mexico City and Jason Buch in San Antonio contributed to this report.